Debate: Should you weigh flour or just scoop it like normal?

I was watching this baking video last night where this guy goes on a rant about how you absolutely have to weigh your flour with a scale, says scooping is a crime against bread. But then my mom, she's been making bread for 40 years, just scoops her flour out of the bag with a measuring cup and her loaves come out perfect every time. I tried weighing my flour for a basic white loaf last Thursday and it came out a little dry, almost crumbly. Then I scooped the same recipe and it was way softer and springier. So which is it? Am I missing something, or is the whole 'weigh everything' thing just for people who are super precise? Has anyone else had this back and forth? What do you do day to day?

2 comments

2 Comments

mason.mary14h ago

My first loaf with a scale turned out so dry I almost gave up on baking entirely.

patricianguyen14h ago

My first loaf with a scale was like a science experiment gone wrong. I measured everything so carefully but forgot water exists, so it came out like a dry brick. My dog tried to eat it and even he gave up after one bite. Took me three more attempts just to get something that wasn't basically edible concrete.